Château Rayas is one of the great names of French wine. Many connoisseurs believe it to be the best in the appellation. The domain was established relatively recently (the vineyards were planted in the early 1920s) by Louis Reynaud who quickly distinguished himself from the typical practices of Châteauneuf du Pape. In this traditionally sun-baked region, one section of the vineyard faces north and the vines here benefit from the refreshing qualities of the pine trees that grow around the property. Louis Reynaud also focused primarily on just one grape variety, Grenache, even though 13 are permitted within the appellation. His son Jacques, who was seen as unconventional, if not eccentric, took over the business and achieved new heights of quality with the wines through traditional techniques. Today, Château Rayas is managed by his nephew Emanuel Reynaud.

A peculiarity of this Châteauneuf du Pape is its blend, which contains an overwhelming proportion of the Grenache grape – about 98%. Favouring low yields (barely 18 hectolitres per hectare), the winemaker seeks to let an exceptional terroir speak for itself: the sandy soil does not contain the famous pudding stones so typical of the appellation (Louis Reynaud is thought to have removed them by hand!). Fermentation takes place in concrete vats, and élevage (20 months) is conducted in old oak barrels. Château Rayas hits the heights of creaminess in great vintage years. Extraordinary aromas of cherry and raspberry characterise this wine, whose refinement and power is unmatched anywhere in the appellation. Also note that a second wine of irreproachable quality – Château Pignan – is produced.